Harnessing the Natural Process for Clean Water in Colorado
August 20th, 2014 | By: Infrastructure Report Card
Let’s Envision the Infrastructure for Tomorrow
America’s infrastructure needs a national commitment to bring existing infrastructure into a state-of-good-repair, and in the long term we must modernize and build in a targeted and strategic manner. This means leadership at the federal, state, and local levels of government, by businesses and individuals, to communicate the importance of our nation’s infrastructure, to craft innovative solutions that reflect the diverse needs of the nation, and to make the investments the system needs. By employing strategies to use every dollar more efficiently and by deploying creative solutions to infrastructure development such as public–private partnerships, we can implement the right projects on time at the right price. Below is a brief success story that shows how we can do this effectively.
Water Success Story: Harnessing the Natural Process for Clean Water
Tags: Colorado, drought, energy, infrastructure, Prairie Waters Projec, purification, water
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Advocate Profile: Shelia Montgomery-Mills, P.E., M. ASCE
July 29th, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan
Shelia Montgomery-Mills presenting to fellow ASCE members.
If you are interested in becoming involved in ASCE’s Key Contact program and promoting the profession through advocacy, you can learn more information and sign up at asce.org.
How did you become interested in and get involved in advocacy for your profession?
When I first attended the Fly-In four years ago, it piqued my interest in advocacy and I knew I wanted to go again. The experience made me very interested in how the federal and state governments work together. I started my career in local government, seeing it from the inside, so to then experience the state and federal levels was an exciting new learning experience.
I’ve always wondered “how do they get anything done?” given the structure of government. Yet, I also witnessed that when infrastructure is at its best, it improves the community. Through that, I knew it was possible as projects led to growth and change.
What issues have you highlighted/focused on when communicating with your legislators?
I make it a point to always discuss MAP-21 and funding for roadways and transit, especially as transit is not readily available in Alabama and I believe it’s a crucial part of building a strong economy. I try to continually tie how infrastructure investment leads to community revitalization and redevelops inner-cities, and the positive impact that can have on the economy. The message that it helps create a better, stronger healthier community that is going to grow is one that I think really resonates with legislators.
As Alabama is the only state without a dam safety program, I bring that topic into the conversation by explaining the potential threat to public safety, infrastructure, homes and businesses. I always make a point to discuss the federal funding available to states that have a program.
What levels of government have you focused your efforts on? Is there something that prompted you to focus your efforts there?
I serve on a local design review committee that is charged with making sure that new developments fit into the neighborhoods and the long range planning of the community. I participate in local public involvement meetings for specific projects and for local community planning efforts. As a small business owner, I am also part of the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) and utilize that venue to talk about infrastructure investment. I traveled to our state capital with the BBA promoting similar topics to those discussed at the ASCE Fly-In, as they relate to the state legislature.
How do you gather information and prepare to do your advocacy work?
I try to stay up on current issues by reading articles published by various avenues through ASCE, in local publications, including blogs, newsletters, and the local business journal. When a topic is particularly interesting to me, then I make note and start to follow it more closely, seeking out additional information on it. Dedicating myself to reading about local events takes a lot of time, but I try to save articles up for an opportunity when I have an hour or two to dedicate to it.
What have you learned through your activities as an ASCE advocate and citizen lobbyist?
Our job is to educate the public as civil engineers. If you say something long enough, people start repeating you. When I first started talking about these issues, even among fellow ASCE members in my branch and section, people were not that engaged. Now, I find them echoing the things I have been saying for years. Explaining things–such as the gas tax and why it matters and the need for a dam safety program in Alabama–helps people understand both sides of the equation.
I truly believe that in the end you can make a difference, which I was not sure of at first. Now, looking at things that have been accomplished I am reassured that advocacy is influential and important, especially talking one-on-one to help build the relationship.
Has the experience helped you improve skills you utilize personally or professionally?
Having something to discuss that I am knowledgeable about has helped me overcome my shyness and reluctance to speak in public. I’ve been put into situations where there was no choice but to speak up and knowing I have something valuable to contribute pushed me to say something. Once I return from the Fly-In, I know I must present to the Branch and report to the Section. The experience has made me a stronger leader, and given me added confidence. When tasked with a new challenge I am encouraged by the things I’ve already accomplished and know that I can take on this new challenge, too.
What has been challenging about being an advocate? What methods have you found effective in working through those challenges? What sort of pitfalls or setbacks have you encountered? And how did you overcome them?
I always respond to hearing “we have a problem,” by saying “no, we have an opportunity.” That definitely applies in advocacy. It is often about finding balance, and saying things in the right way that it will connect with the audience present. It can be a challenge to find opportunities to speak to key people. When the topic is increased taxes or government regulations, many citizens and politicians quickly shutdown or get defensive. It is extremely important to start with the cost of doing nothing and the effect on individuals and our community.
What have you found rewarding about your efforts? Is there a particularly memorable experience you can share?
It genuinely feels like I am making a difference, and it is an honor to talk about these issues on behalf of others who can’t or won’t raise these topics. It’s also provided a way to meet a lot of great people and give back. I also try to encourage others, especially young engineers, to get involved and find their own rewards through advocacy.
Walking the halls and stairwells of congress has been the most memorable. I always make a point to walk the steps so I can see the worn-impressions created in each stair by those before me. I wonder about the many critical decisions made in our history that have brought us to today and, ultimately, what will the effects be in the future for decisions made today.
As civil engineers we understand infrastructure, the needs for investment, the value of maintaining what we have verses replacement, and how what was built in our history that has made us the great country we are today. How do we continue so that the same quality of life we enjoyed is passed down for future generations? Tough decisions were made 100, 200 years ago and it brought us to what we have today. Stopping now is not the answer. Having a younger member attend the Fly-In with me this year and sharing my enthusiasm for the whole process made me realize just how much advocacy means to me. I can make a difference in many more ways than I ever thought.
Have you felt that your efforts have made a difference? How?
I have seen public investment make a difference in communities, which is what encourages me to continue my advocacy efforts. Public support, which often means funding of infrastructure projects, encourages private development leading to economic development with benefits that far outweigh the public funding.
I also hear more people talking about the issues, including dam safety and the Report Card. It took a few years, but other people have joined me in advocating on the issues from Alabama. We are planning to release a Report Card because we recognize it’s a valuable tool for advocacy.
Seeing other members have an interest is very rewarding for me, especially younger members who have a lot of energy and are interested in finding ways to make a difference, because I know it will make an even greater impact the more people talk about these issues. It is very important to me to encourage younger members’ interest in advocacy and ASCE in general. Our future, and theirs, is in their hands and engagement today will be paid back for years into the future. The youth of today are seeking these opportunities and we must strive to find ways to support their efforts.
What advice would you give to someone interested in getting involved in advocacy?
It’s helpful to talk to someone who is already involved in advocacy. I also recommend familiarizing yourself with the issues through newspapers and ASCE materials. By learning more about the issues you will find something that sparks your interest, and that passion can be very motivating. Once you find that passion, get involved! Serve on a local board or commission or committee, become a key contact, attend the Fly-In or Drive-In, or get on an agenda where you can talk to local officials.
Tags: advocacy profile, advocate profile, Alabama, infrastructure
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This Week in Infrastructure: All eyes are on the Senate… for next week
July 25th, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan
The Senate will vote early next week on the House’s bill to extend funding to the Highway Trust Fund until May. The upper chamber is poised to debate and vote on the bill and four amendments to it, including the Carper-Corker-Boxer Amendment, which ASCE supports. If passed, the amendment would shorten the funding extension, thus requiring Congress to revisit the topic by December and make a decision to pass a long-term, sustainable bill for the Highway Trust Fund. This would shorten the length of uncertainty for states, and allow for better planning of transportation projects. Maryland’s Senators authored an op-ed on the value in a multi-year transportation bill, again detailing the benefit of longer term transportation funding laws. Vice President Joe Biden tried his hand at the White House White Board video series to explain once again the value in infrastructure investment. While it can often seem Congress is “riding on four flat tires,” as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says, there was an encouraging announcement from another part of the federal government, The Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $10 billion in private funding for rural infrastructure investment. Next week’s Senate actions will provide clearer next steps in the quest for a long-term, sustainable bill to #FixtheTrustFund.Tags: congress, highway trust fund, infrastructure, White House
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Planning America’s Energy Future at ASCE 2014 Shale Energy Engineering Conference
July 24th, 2014 | By: Whitford Remer
This week, ASCE’s inaugural Shale Energy Engineering Conference was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It included three days of plenary panels, technical sessions and a visit from the Commonwealth’s Governor, Tom Corbett. In his remarks, Governor Corbett reminded the audience that 10 years ago the United States was an importer of natural gas, and today, those pipelines are literally being reserved- with Pennsylvania leading a movement to export gas abroad. Gov. Corbett went so far as saying the rapidly growing natural gas industry in the United States “can change the geopolitics of the world.” But the Governor also issued a stark warning that engineers must be stewards of the environment saying “we look to you to be the guardians of how to do it right.” ASCE President-Elect, Bob Stevens said the Conference allows for diverse stakeholders to come together and focus on “growing working relationships across the industry,” specifically pointing out that there were multiple organizations that create shale extraction standards presenting together, including the American Petroleum Institute and National Council of State Legislators. The Marcellus Shale Coalition estimates energy companies have invested more than $500 million on road upgrades in the region, proving that our infrastructure future cannot be solely focused on one sector over another. America’s energy future is in the hands of many, including civil engineers, and it is a responsibility Conference attendees showed that they relish.Is Our Infrastructure Making the Grade? We Know the Answer
July 22nd, 2014 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
A few weeks ago, a new report from CG/LA Infrastructure and Autodesk offered a six-point plan to address the dismal D+ grade from our 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. As Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) put it, “there are real economic costs associated with our infrastructure gridlock. This is a domestic emergency.” Throughout the new report, we see many parallels between the six recommendations and both the Vision and Key Solutions offered in our Report Card: leadership at all levels of government, promoting sustainability and resilience, and making sure that we have comprehensive plans in place to make the best decisions on how to spend our limited dollars. Perhaps the most critical point between the two reports is that we need to view all of the recommendations through the lens of an interconnected infrastructure system. It’s not about choosing a sector to prioritize first – whether that be roads, water, or our energy grid. Unfortunately, our maze of agencies and jurisdictions that deal with infrastructure policy are most often set up that way. In order to keep the momentum going to raise the grades, we are going to have to embrace a holistic method of infrastructure planning that recognizes that the system is only as good as its weakest link. Our water treatment plans rely on vast quantities of energy. Our ports rely on reliable roads and railroad connections to move goods off the docks to your local store. We know that long-term planning, leadership, and innovation are the answers. We have examples of cities and states that are tackling ambitious projects across our infrastructure modes, but we need more of this type of leadership. Only then will we have an infrastructure system ready to support a growing 21st-century economy.ASCE Statement on the Build America Investment Initiative
July 17th, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan
Washington, D.C. — The following is a statement from Randall (Randy) S. Over, P.E., F.ASCE, president, ASCE on the Build America Investment Initiative: “Today’s action by President Obama to launch the Build America Investment Initiative comes at a critical time as we witness Congress still debating how to provide a long-term, sustainable solution to the federal Highway Trust Fund. While private sector financing can by no means replace public funding, states and localities urgently need all of the best tools available to provide transportation solutions for their communities. “The newly-created Build America Transportation Investment Center can play a vital role in sharing best public-private partnerships (P3s) practices and encouraging more states to utilize P3s to a greater degree, thereby creating a more robust U.S. market and attracting private sector investment in our nation’s transportation infrastructure. “ASCE looks forward to working with the Obama Administration to positively implement this action in the coming weeks and months. ASCE supports a comprehensive funding and financing program for operating, maintaining, and improving the nation’s transportation system, which includes P3s, infrastructure banks, bonding and other innovative financing mechanisms. If utilized appropriately, these financing mechanisms can help leverage available transportation funding and play an important role in delivering projects and managing assets effectively.”###
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 145,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society. For more information, visit www.asce.org.Tags: ASCE, bridges, Build America Investment Initative, congress, highway trust fund, infrastructure, P3s, roads, surface transportation, White House
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Advocate Profile: Darren M. Benoit, P.E., M.ASCE
June 26th, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan
Darren M. Benoit, P.E., is an active member of the New Hampshire Section of ASCE. He works as a senior transportation manager for McFarland Johnson, Inc. In his role, he works on highway projects in Concord, New Hampshire and with clients throughout New England as a technical lead on projects. As a Key Contact for almost five years, Darren has advocated on a variety of issues, including an increase to the state gas tax to fund investments in transportation infrastructure. New Hampshire successfully passed a modest gas tax increase last month, making it the first state to sign a gas tax increase into law this year, a helpful mechanism for funding transportation projects. If you are interested in becoming involved in ASCE’s Key Contact program and promoting the profession through advocacy, you can learn more information and sign up at asce.org. How did you become interested in and get involved in advocacy for your profession? Although I had been peripherally aware of state and national transportation issues, the focus of my advocacy work began when I accepted a volunteer position as the New Hampshire Section Government Relations Chair. My first Fly-In was the start of building stronger relationships with our federal congressional delegation. After attending, I also accepted the role to lead an update to our state’s Infrastructure Report Card. What issues have you highlighted/focused on when communicating with your legislators? Each year seems to bring its own challenges. At the national level, it is often advocating for the reauthorization of major bills such as the Surface Transportation or Aviation Investment Acts. At the state level we work closely with other professional societies to evaluate legislation being proposed. There is a lot more variation at that level including changes that would affect our licensing, liability issues, infrastructure funding bills, and more recently trying to protect engineers when they are called upon during disaster relief. What levels of government have you focused your efforts on? Is there something that prompted you to focus your efforts there? Do you offer your expertise beyond that of a traditional citizen lobbyist for the public’s benefit? My focus has been primarily on the state and federal levels. We are a small state with limited resources so we have to focus where we can have the most impact. A single long-term relationship can make a significant difference on the federal level. At the state level partnering with other engineering societies can help identify key legislation for our businesses and for infrastructure, allowing the individual groups to focus on the key issues. Each year we provide written testimony and oral testimony on select bills which I would see as the traditional advocacy, but I think our most effective measures are in communication. The optimum is to build a two-way relationship with your state and federal representatives such that they reach out to you to provide information on issues. This has included providing support at press conferences, providing names of professionals who can participate in conference calls, and provide the information needed for them to argue your point. One of the best tools we can provide our legislators is an updated Report Card at both the state and federal level. It has been a universal tool often cited in other documents, in congress, and even in the governor’s State of the State address. How do you gather information and prepare to do your advocacy work? The first year is normally the hardest. The Report Card is a great framework if your state has one. Most have references to show the source and date of the information that can be updated if it has become stale. Over time I have built a network of professionals within the private, municipal, and state sectors that can provide up-to-date information in a very short amount of time. What have you learned through your activities as an ASCE advocate and citizen lobbyist? First, communication is key. Stay in contact with legislative contacts regularly instead of waiting for that single most critical issue. Posting articles on social media platforms, like Facebook, so other ASCE members are aware of the issues is also beneficial. Second is collaboration. There are many related professional groups that have common ground and can pool resources. Public works officials, contractors, and non-engineering groups often share our views and can provide a solid support base. Third is to not get discouraged. Stay positive and work long term. Billions of dollars in infrastructure investment is going to take a lot of discussion before headway will be made. Has the experience helped you improve skills you utilize personally or professionally? This is an area where all types of personalities are present. Learning to communicate better with a broad variety of people is a skill that transcends all people and professions. What has been challenging about being an advocate? Trying to maintain that pesky day job. The intensity of a career in engineering allows for limited time to dedicate to advocacy. What methods have you found effective in working through those challenges? Collaboration. When I can’t attend a hearing personally, having others who can see that my written testimony is submitted is a great benefit. Building a Government Relations Committee that can spread the work is also important. What sort of pitfalls or setbacks have you encountered? And how did you overcome them? Most times compared to the oppositions’ lobbyists we are underfunded, have less time, and are volunteers. We also typically have less political experience and are not as politically connected. At best, we are still trying to get citizens to decide to invest more money in our infrastructure. We prepared a consistent message based upon facts and prepared for long debate. Define success in smaller increments. Most of our issues are cyclical and require regular attention to continue to make progress. What have you found rewarding about your efforts? The relationships built along the way. At first it may not feel like you are making a difference, but consistently being involved builds credibility. Is there a particularly memorable experience you can share? After the effort to publish the State Report Card, it was very rewarding when state officials began to cite or quote from the document. Have you felt that your efforts have made a difference? Certainly! The education of the next generation in advocacy. I am inspired by the number of younger members willing to reach out to their legislators and some to even testify in front of the legislature in support of the bills. Advocacy is not a natural extension of our training as engineers. A number of these younger engineers have joined me at the Fly-In and have started building their own relationships at the state and federal levels. What advice would you give to someone interested in getting involved in advocacy? Jump in with both feet, don’t get discouraged, and learn from others who have more experience in advocacy. Other like-minded organizations often have lobbyists who can help show you the ropes and ASCE-National has been an amazing resource for ASCE-NH.Tags: advocacy profile, infrastructure, New Hampshire
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Will Pennsylvania's Infrastructure Make the Grade?
June 19th, 2014 | By: Infrastructure Report Card
Infrastructure has a direct impact on our lives every day—from the water we drink, to the schools our children attend and to the roads and rails we travel.
Join us for one of ASCE’s release events for the 
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
- State Senator John Rafferty, Jr., Chairman of Senate Transportation Committee
- Harry Campbell, Pennsylvania Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
- Randall Over, ASCE National President
- Jason Bowes, ASCE Central PA Section President
- Darin Gatti, Chief Engineer, Philadelphia Streets Department
- Jeffrey Knueppel, Deputy General Manager, SEPTA
- Lester Toaso, District Executive, PennDOT District 6-0
- Daniel Cessna PE, PennDOT Engineering District 11, District Executive
- Dennis Davin, Allegheny County, Director of Economic Development
- Bill Flanagan, Allegheny Conference on Community Development Executive Vice President, Corporate Relations
- Michael W. Rebert, P.E., PennDOT Engineering District 5, District Executive
- Becky Bradley, Executive Director of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
- Aurel Arndt, General Manager, Lehigh County Authority, Allentown, PA
RSVP to reportcard@asce.org
Tags: event, infrastructure, media, Pennsylvania, report card
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This Week In Infrastructure: A lot to Celebrate
May 23rd, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan
This Memorial Day weekend, there is a lot to celebrate and remember. As always, this important holiday allows us to pause and remember those who dedicated and sacrificed their lives for our country. So to our members who served in the military, and to all our active and veteran members of the armed forces we are grateful for your service. At ASCE, we are pleased that the Water Resources & Reform Development Act (WRRDA) conference committee report was voted on and approved by the House on Tuesday and the Senate on Thursday. The bill, which authorizes $12 billion in water projects, now moves to the White House for the president’s signature. It is also important to note that while we so often talk about the gridlock in Washington, WRRDA passed with remarkable bipartisan support. Given the holiday weekend and unofficial start of summer travel, our friends at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) released a report about Americans’ tendency to “Travel Like a Local” while visiting a city. However, the unofficial start of summer also marks that we are inching closer to the Highway Trust Fund’s insolvency. Hopefully, passing WRRDA can serve as a springboard to further infrastructure legislation for transportation infrastructure. As Americans hit the road this weekend, a reliable funding source for the Highway Trust Fund may be far from most drivers’ minds, but what won’t be is sitting in traffic or avoiding potholes, reminders of the failure to act and its consequences. Suggestions about ways to fix the upcoming insolvency continue, including from the American Trucking Association (ATA) this week, which announced support for indexing the federal fuel tax to inflation. On The Huffington Post, an Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) analyst also encouraged fixing the gas tax to reflect current costs. Have a safe and fun holiday weekend! And feel free to take the opportunity to advocate to #fixtheTrustFund and #RebuildRenew while you’re stuck in traffic (just don’t tweet while driving, please).Tags: congress, highway trust fund, infrastructure, wrrda
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ASCE commends passage of Water Resources Reform and Development Act
May 22nd, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan
Washington, D.C. — The following is a statement from Randall (Randy) S. Over, P.E., F.ASCE, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), regarding the final passage today of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives: “Today’s congressional passage of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) is a defining moment for the nation’s ports, inland waterways, dams, levees and clean water infrastructure. The bill will provide significant funding — $12.3 billion over ten years — to modernize critical infrastructure while also promoting economic growth and job creation. “ASCE’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure graded the nation’s ports a C, inland waterways a D-, dams a D, and levees a D-. Since the release of our 2013 Report Card, we’ve urged Congress to pass water resources legislation that would revitalize these languishing sectors. After seven years with no legislative action to modernize the nation’s water resources, this bill will definitively move the ball forward to help raise the grades on America’s infrastructure.“ASCE applauds Congress for its decisive and bipartisan action in getting WRRDA over the finish line. This bill will ensure that our nation’s ports, waterways, dams and levees receive the funding they require so that the United States remains competitive in the 21st century. We look forward to the legislation being signed into law by the president in the coming days.”
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 145,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society. ASCE’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, graded America’s cumulative GPA for infrastructure at a D+. The Report Card app for Apple and Android devices includes videos, interactive maps and info-graphics that tell the story behind the grades, as well as key facts for all 50 states. For more information, visit www.asce.org and follow us on Twitter, @ASCETweets and @ASCEGovRel.###
Tags: congress, dams, infrastructure, levees, ports, water, water infrastructure, wrrda
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